From time to time, Trenitalia offers a rock-bottom one-way promotional fare of 10 Euros from Rome to Sicily.
This promotion is called "Happy Train: Last Minute di Trenitalia". Tickets must be purchased online or via the national call center in Italy. Ticket is NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-CHANGEABLE, and valid only on the train and for the date selected. You can purchase the ticket as much as one week in advance, based on availability. The list of available trains at the super-discounted fare changes daily.
Currently, you can travel on the 7:45 a.m. ICplus train "Peloritano" from Roma Termini to Palermo for 10 Euros, first or second class, subject to availability; or on the 11:45 a.m. ICplus train "Archimede" from Roma Termini to Siracusa for the same fare, first or second class, subject to availability.
If the "Last Minute" fare of 10 Euros is not available, you can still try for the "Freedom to Travel" promotional fare of 15 Euros, valid any day of the week. The 15 Euro fare is also non-refundable, but is changeable for a surcharge of 5 Euros. You can book the "Freedom to Travel" fare as much as 60 days in advance.
ROME TO SICILY FOR 10 EUROS, RESERVED FIRST CLASS SEAT (subject to availability): a savings of 87% over the regular first class fare!!!
Each traveller can save as much as 65 Euros (US$ 82) per first class seat. A party of four can save as much as 260 Euros (US$328)!!!
The "Happy Train" promotional fare of 10 Euros on this segment is available ONLY from December 13 through 19, only on the two trains noted above, and subject to capacity controls. Thereafter, the fare may be offered again from time to time, but its renewed availability is NOT announced, and the prospective traveller must check the Trenitalia website from time to time for the list of trains offering the "Happy Train" fare.
In any event, there is a VERY narrow window of time within which to purchase tickets at this particularly advantageous fare (no more than 7 days).
The separate and distinct "Freedom to Travel" promotional fare of 15 Euros has somewhat fewer restrictions, is available for purchase up to 60 days in advance, and is offered every day of the week (with capacity controls) on any IC, ICplus, ICN or Espresso night train (including those going to Sicily).
The "Happy Train" advance purchase promotional fare of 10 Euros applies for travel on December 20 as well on the two ICplus trains between Rome Termini and Sicily (and MAY apply on later days, check the promotion board on the Trenitalia website daily).
The promotional fare of 10 Euros ALSO applies for travel between Rome Termini and Palermo (BUT NOT Siracusa) on the Intercity Night train (ICN)"Conca d'Oro" through December 20 (and possibly beyond). This night train departs Rome Termini at 23:00 and arrives in Palermo at 10:40 the following morning.
For as little as 15 Euros ("Freedom to Travel" advance purchase promotional fare), you can travel on the "Conca d'Oro" to Siracusa as well, as the train divides at Messina (as do the ICplus trains).
This ICN train also offers extra-cost sleeping compartments (Wagons lits-Vettura letti) as well as the "Excelsior class" luxury sleeping compartments with full toilet/shower private facilities. The "Freedom to Travel" advance purchase promotional rate of 45 Euros applies to Wagons lits-Vettura letti compartments (BUT NOT the "Excelsior class" compartments). The promotional rate for a Wagon lits-Vettura letti bed represents a discount of about 50%
The return "Conca d'Oro" departs Palermo at 18:00 and arrives in Rome Termini at 6:11 the following morning.
So, between Rome Termini and Sicily, you have the choice of paying as little as 10 or 15 Euros for a reserved first or second class seat on the ICplus and ICN trains, or as little as 45 Euros for a Wagons lits-Vettura letti bed on the ICN or EXP night trains.
To maximize your chances of qualifying for one of the capacity-controlled, deep-discount promotional fares, be sure to book as early as possible (60 days for "Freedom to Travel"; one week for "Happy Train - Last Minute di Trenitalia").
Also, be sure to read the rules and regulations concerning these promotional fares, which carry significant restrictions.
A fantastic deal, don't you think? ................
The "Happy Train - Last Minute di Trenitalia" advance purchase promotional fare of 10 Euros on the two daylight Intercity Plus (ICplus) trains to Sicily apparently ends December 31st (EXCEPT that the early morning ICplus train from Rome to Palermo continues to offer the 10 Euro promotional fare for the time being, but not the return trip from Palermo to Rome).
Additionally, the same 10-Euro promotional fare on the Intercity Night train between Roma Termini and Palermo Centrale continues into 2006, at least for a while longer.
In any case, the "Freedom to Travel" advance purchase promotional fare of 15 Euros on all Trenitalia Intercity, Intercity Plus, Intercity Night and Espresso night trains, continues as always.
So, you'll still be able to take either of the two daylight ICplus trains from Rome to Sicily for as little as 15 Euros, if you plan well in advance.
Trenitalia is not known to be a serious company, believe me: I have commuted for many years with their trains. Going from Rome to Sicily just before Christmas means that you cannot probably find even a regular, full fare ticket. Sicilians are everywhere in Italy and they are proud of their origins, so generally they travel to their wonderful Island exactly for the Christmas holidays. Angelo.
Posts: 34 | Location: Winston Salem, NC USA | Registered: 02 January 2006
The "Happy Train - Last Minute di Trenitalia" 10-Euro advance purchase promotional fare between Rome and Sicily on certain ICplus and ICN direct trains out of Rome Termini Station CONTINUES into 2006, until further notice!!!!!
Keep checking the Trenitalia website for these promotional fares (as well as the "Freedom to Travel" (for ICplus, IC, ICN and EXP trains) and "Eurostar a 29/39 Euro" (for ES trains only) advance purchase promotional fares) BEFORE you book your rail travel in Italy!!!!
REMEMBER that you can also book a sleeper or couchette for as little as 45 Euros per passenger with the "Freedom to Travel" promotional fare up to 60 days in advance, on certain ICN and EXP long-distance night trains (including those going to Sicily).
Can you believe it, here we are at the middle of February, and the "Last Minute di Trenitalia" special promotional fare of 10 Euros between Rome Termini and either Palermo or Siracusa continues in force! That's 10 Euros, first or second class, reserved seating, one-way, on either of the two daylight ICplus thru-trains between Rome and Sicily!
This promotion has now been running for over two months straight, with either or both of the two ICPlus day trains, or the sole ICN night train, between Rome and Sicily.
REMEMBER that "Last Minute di Trenitalia" tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable, and can be purchased only in the seven days immediately prior to the desired travel date.
February is a great month to visit Sicily! Particularly if it costs only 20 Euros, round-trip!
The "Happy Train - Last Minute di Trenitalia" advance purchase promotional rate is now limited to SECOND CLASS seats only. First class seats are excluded.
The promotional seats remain capacity controlled, non-refundable, non-changeable, and are limited to SELECT trains (list updated daily) on the Trenitalia website, for travel within 7 days after booking.
UPDATE: THE HAPPY TRAIN: LAST MINUTE DI TRENITALIA PROMOTIONAL FARE WAS TERMINATED AS OF MAY 31, 2006
but .....
you can still travel to Sicily, on the Intercity Plus trains or the Intercity Night/Espresso Night trains, for as little as 15 Euros, with the other advance purchase promotional fare, still in force:
"Freedom to Travel" or "Liberta' di Viaggiare"
Don't pay full fare when you can travel for much less!!!
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